Deportivo Alaves 0-5 FC Barcelona: Hits & Flops | La Liga 2019/20

Hit: Riqui Puig (Barcelona)

Puig might be a starter for the next 10 years if he stays put at Barcelona

After what seemed like forever, the La Masia academy appears to have finally unearthed a precociously talented midfielder in the shape of Riqui Puig. The youngster has played one blinder after another since the restart, but today was arguably his best performance yet.

With excellent distribution of the ball and expert link-up play, Puig was a constant threat. He bagged two assists in the match, for Messi and Semedo, but his throughball for Suarez arguably was the pass of the match. It could've been one of the best assists of the season had the latter been more clinical with that.

Today, Riqui Puig became the youngest Barcelona player to provide two assists in a single LaLiga game since Thiago Alcántara against Villarreal in August 2011. [opta] pic.twitter.com/36yUt4DHV8

— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 19, 2020

Nevertheless, the Spaniard had a top notch game and the fans are absolutely raving about him! Barcelona's next Andres Iniesta? You never know

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Flop: Alaves' counter-attacking moves

Alaves were threatening on the break, but lacked cutting edge to finish

With safety already assured, Alaves had nothing to play for in the match but that didn't deter the hosts from taking it to the mighty Barcelona. They were content to let the latter have the ball, but then hit them on the break whenever an opportunity showed up. This ploy resulted in a couple of good chances, but the end product was lacking.

Manu Garcia came really close in the ninth minute after a well worked move saw him sneak into the area, but blasted his effort well over the bar. The Catalans didn't leave too much space at the back, but were exposed on the left flank for the likes of Garcia and Lucas Perez to make runs.

The duo combined to conjure another chance towards the end of first-half but, they once again lacked the cutting edge to just kill it off as Barcelona managed to deal with the danger suitably.

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Hit: Ansu Fati (Barcelona)

One for the future!

Riqui Puig isn't the only academy star who has been amazing this season, because Ansu Fati has had an astronomic debut season too. It was only fitting for him to get on the scoresheet on the final day, taking his tally to eight in La Liga. To put that into context, Messi had only six in his first full season with Barcelona!

Fati was a menace down that left flank particularly during the opening half, constantly getting the ball forward and driving the defenders away for the likes of Suarez and Vidal to run into the resulting spaces. He also triggered the onslaught today with a nonchalant finish past Roberto Jimenez.

Quick with his feet and skilled on the ball, Ansu Fati is definitely one for the future.